ISLAMABAD: Apart from looking after taxpayers’ complaints, the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) is also taking part in several national, regional and international forums.
There are at least four organizations of this kind. Two are international: 1) International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), 2) OIC Ombudsman Association (OICOA); one regional: Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA); and one national level organization Forum of Pakistan Ombudsman (FPO).
Representative from Pakistan is obligated to attend annual and bi-annual meetings of these forums. Either the Wafaqi Muhtasib or the FTO, Abdur Rauf Chaudhry attends the most meetings.
As evident from the stature, INI held highest number of members which are 141 and Pakistan is one of them being represented by the FTO Chaudhry often on behalf of the Pakistan’s Federal Ombudsman.
AOA is second to INI which is comprised of 28 member states from all over Asia. OICOA is next to AOA with 23 member states. This organization is actually an inception of Pakistan Ombudsman secretariat and still Pakistani authorities are heading its main affairs including the drafting and translation of it charter.
Besides them is the national level association of FTO. This association is comprised all 12 ombudsmen currently working in Pakistan. They are: Wafaqi Muhtasib, Provincial Ombudsman for Balochistan, Ombudsman for Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment of Women at Working Place, Provincial Ombudsman for Punjab, Provincial Ombudsman for Sindh, Provincial Ombudsman for Khyber Pakhtunkhwah, Banking Muhtasib, Insurance Mohtasib, and others.
